Nepal Tourism Board

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is a national organization established by an act of Parliament in the form of partnership between His Majesty`s Government and the private sector tourism industry of Nepal. NTB is responsible for the marketing activities aimed at promoting Nepal as a premier destination. Although the initial phase of the functioning of the Board was focused on marketing and promotion, the ultimate aim of the NTB is to take over regulatory and product development activities as well. The functioning of NTB has the commitment and the support of the government as well as the dynamism of the private sector. The Board is an autonomous institution consisting of 11 board members (the Secretary at the MOCTCA as Chairman and 4 ex-officio members from government ministries and 6 from among the private sector representatives including the Chief Executive Officer). The Board has been created to provide a vision drawn leadership, continuity of promotional efforts, good management and guidance to Nepal`s tourism industry. The funds for NTB is collected from the entire tourism related businesses in the form of tourist service fee, thereby keeping it financially independent. The Board is working toward repositioning the image of the country so as to market and promote Nepal aggressively and extensively both domestically and internationally. This is crucial as Nepal, though small in size, has immense cultural and natural diversity and is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The friendliness and hospitality of the people of Nepal, where guests are treated as Gods and the variety of exciting adventure activities combined with culture that epitomizes peace and harmony, make a visit to Nepal a memorable experience. We feel proud and honored to welcome you to Nepal. 

Source: Nepal Tourism Board

Getting to Nepal

By Air
The Tribhuvan airport in Kathmandu is Nepal’s only international airport. The important airlines that serve Kathmandu are Indian Airlines, Thai International, Bangladesh Biman, China Southwest Airlines, Druk Air, Qatar Airways, PIA- Pakistan Airlines, Gulf Air, Sahara Ailrlines, Jet Air, and Cosmic Air.

The National Carrier - Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) operates two flights per week from London and one from Paris via Dubai. Contact its agency in London for cheap excursion fares. All of RNAC's European flights operate via Frankfurt.
Lufthansa also operates direct Frankfurt-Kathmandu flights with three flights weekly throughout the year. A return ticket costs around US$825. German bucket shops can produce special deals on these. Pakistan International, Bangladesh Biman and Aeroflot all have a one- airline service from Europe to Kathmandu, though they require a connection in Karachi or Dhaka or Moscow. From Germany, look at charter flights; LTU operates a weekly flight from Germany to Kathmandu during winter.

Via Asia
You could travel to Kathmandu via Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore. There are daily flights to Kaathmandu from bankgkok.

If in India, you can fly to Nepal from Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Banglore and Varanasi. The one
There is the spectacular flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thrusdays operated by China Southwest Airlines. You can also fly Druk Air from Paro in Bhutan, or take a flight from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

From Europe and Middle East
Qatar Airways and Gulf Air operates daily flights to Kathmandu from Doha and Dubai.
Pakistan International, Bangladesh Biman and Aeroflot have one-airline service from Europe to Kathmandu.The other option are the charter companies, Austrin Airways has a direct flight from Vienna to Kathmandu and Martin Air operates direct flight to Kathmandu from Aamsterdam.

From North America
You could fly to Nepal via India or alternatively via Bangkok or Hong Kong. RNAC’s Osaka flight makes good connections with North American flights.

From Australia and New Zealand
Look for routes via Singapore, Hong Kong or Bangkok.

By Land
There are just eight entry points into Nepal by land open to foreigners, from which six are from India and two from Tibet.

Via India
The crossing points from India include Mahendranagar, Dhangadhi and Nepalgunj in the west, Sunali, Birganj and Kakarbhitta in the east. Make sure to book your tickets through a reputed agency to avoid getting duped. Also bear in mind that everyone has to change buses at the border whether they book a through ticket or not, and that despite claims to the contrary, there are no tourist buses on either side of the border. You can board direct buses to the Nepal border from Delhi, Varanasi, Calcutta, Patna and Darjeeling. From the border, you can board Nepali buses to Kathmandu.

Via Tibet
You can cross the border into Nepal from Tibet via Kodari.

Leaving Nepal
Always, but always, reconfirm reservations, or chances are the airlines will cancel them. Take time before your trek or river rafting tour to reconfirm your flight out of Nepal.

Lifestyle of Nepalese people

Nepal is a third world country with a majority of the population striving for a better life. Their belief in the caste system divided the people by their social class, and many are happy to see this system fading.

Parents are highly respected by their children as the eldest son’s main responsibility is to care for them when they are too old to take care of themselves. Relatives often stay close to each other and may even live in the same house.

Nepali learn English in schools and a little about the American ways of life. Their culture is very rich from their clothing styles to their food. Even when in America they carry out their traditions.

Nepali Language

It's quite easy to get by with English in Nepal; most of the visitors will have to deal with in the Kathmandu valley and in Pokhara will speak good English. Along the main trekking trails, particularly the Annapurna Circuit, English is widely understood. However, it's interesting to learn at least a little Nepali and it's quite an easy language to pick up. Nepali is closely related to Hindi and, like Hindi, is a member of the Indo-European group of languages. Although Nepali is the national language of Nepal and is the linking language between all the country's ethnic groups there are many other languages spoken. The Newars of the Kathmandu Valley, for example, speak Newari and there are other languages spoken by the Tamangs, Sherpas, Rais, Limbus, Magars, Gurungs and other groups. In the Terai, bordering India, Hindi and Maithali, another Indian language of their region, are often spoken. Even if you can learn no other Nepali, there is one word every visitor soon picks up - Namaste. Strictly translated it means I salute the god in you, but it is used as an everyday greeting encompassing everything from Hello to How are you? and even 'see you again soon'. Properly used it should be accompanied with the hands held in a prayer like position, the Nepali gesture which is the equivalent of westerners shaking hands.

Nepalese Economy

Nepal, one of the world’s most breathtakingly beautiful countries, is also one of its least wealthy. Primarily an agrarian economy, Nepal grows her own grain, sugarcane and tobacco. Jute is grown and processed in local factories. Industry includes carpet manufacture, jute, cigarettes, sugar and oilseed mills, cement and brick production. Imports, which far outstrip export, include heavy machinery, petroleum and fertilizer and as you will realize in any middling town even, soap, shampoo and other fast moving consumer goods. Exports are carpets, leather goods, jute products and clothing.Major trade partners are India, the USA, the UK, Singapore, Japan and Germany.

Tourism is obviously a heavyweight industry and a source of precious foreign exchange.
Foreign aid plays a major role in Nepal’s economic life. Infrastructure development projects and environmental conservation are areas where the government’s efforts find willing international support. Of late the government has set in motion measures of financial prudence by cutting back on expensive subsidies and cutting down on its erstwhile bulky bureaucracy.
GDP: $26.2 billion (1998 estimate) purchasing power parity
Per capita Income: $1100 per annum, purchasing power parity

Population Of Nepal

Population Structure and Settlement PatternsAt the time of the 1981 census, the total population of Nepal was 15,022,839, the average family was made up of 5.8 persons, and life expectancy at birth was close to fifty years. As of July 1990, the population was estimated at 19,145,800 persons. The annual population growth rate increased from less than 2 percent during the 1950s to more than 2.6 percent in 1990, suggesting that despite a trend toward increasing acceptance of family planning, the program did not have much influence on reducing the population growth rate. The Central Bureau of Statistics forecast that the total population would increase to 23.6 million by 2001.

The 1981 census reveals a significant variation in regional growth rates. Although the Tarai Region's annual growth rate of 4.2 percent was much higher than the national average, the Hill and Mountain regions, respectively, posted growth rates of 1.7 and 1.4 percent. In terms of regional distribution, 43.6 percent (6,556,828 persons) of the country's population resided in the Tarai, whereas the shares of the Hill and Mountain regions totaled 7,163,115 (47.7 percent) and 1,302,896 (8.7 percent), respectively.

About 70 percent of the total population was of working age, or between the ages of fifteen and fifty-nine years. More than 65 percent of this segment of the population was considered economically active in 1981. In terms of employment structure, more than 91 percent of the economically active population was engaged in agriculture and allied activities, and the rest in the secondary (industrial) and tertiary (service) sectors, including government employment. In 1981 males and females who were widowed or separated constituted only a tiny fragment of the population--0.4 percent for each sex.

Dependency and Sex RatiosThe dependency ratio is defined as the ratio of the population in the birth to fourteen age-group, and those sixty years and older to the population in the productive age-group, that is, fifteen to fifty-nine years of age. In 1981 this ratio stood at eighty to nine. The temporal increase in the number of those in the young population group has depressed the median age of the population from 21.1 years in the mid-1950s to 19.9 years in 1981. The sex ratio in 1981, defined as the number of males to 100 females, was 105 males to every 100 females.

Fertility and MortalityAccording to the estimates made by the Central Bureau of Statistics in 1985, the crude birthrate was 44 per 1,000, and the crude death rate was almost 14 per 1,000. The total fertility rate, defined as the average number of children a woman might bear, was 6.3 children, with a variation between rural and urban fertility rates. The rural total fertility rate was 6.4, compared with 5.8 for urban areas. Both the crude birthrate and the total fertility rate have remained high and fairly constant for the past several decades, whereas the crude death rate has been declining consistently, thereby contributing to rapid population growth.

The most significant category of deaths was the infant mortality rate. Varying techniques for calculating infant mortality, however, have led to discrepant estimations. They ranged from more than 147 deaths per 1,000 in 1985 to between 101 and 128 per 1,000 in 1989. Infant mortality rates also varied widely among the three geographic regions, which may have been partly because of differing rates of migration and the expectancy that higher mortality rates are found in migrant families. Nonetheless, infant mortality was almost twice as high in rural areas as urban areas, a clear indication of the lack of health services in rural areas, and was high compared to many other Asian countries.

Population DensityOne of the major consequences of rapid population growth was the progressive deterioration of the ratio of people to land. This land shortage greatly affected Nepal's predominantly agrarian society, where land was the most important source of livelihood and social status, and it was most evident in terms of population density. In 1981 the population density was 102 persons per square kilometer of total land. Although the ratio appears to suggest a fairly low density, the figures are misleading. When density is measured in terms of persons per hectare of cultivatable land (that is agricultural density), the true nature of the human-land ratio emerges. The agricultural density in 1981 was 6.1 persons per hectare (or almost 0.2 hectare per person), which represents a very high density, especially given that the country's production technology remains in a backward state. Nepal's ability to reclaim more land in order to accommodate a rapidly growing population already had reached a maximum threshold.

Education system in Nepal

Education SystemModern education began in Nepal with the establishment of the first school in 1853. However, this school was only for the members of the ruling families and their courtiers. Schooling for the general people began only after 1951 when a popular movement ended the autocratic Rana family regime and initiated a democratic system. In the past 50 years there has been a dramatic expansion of educational facilities in the country. As a result, adult literacy (15+) of the country was reported to be 48.2% (female: 34.6%, male: 62.2%) in the Population Census, 2001, up from about 5% in 1952/54. Beginning from about 300 schools and two colleges with about ten thousand students in 1951, there now are 26 thousand schools (including higher secondary), 415 colleges, five universities and two academies of higher studies. Altogether 5.5 million students are enrolled in those schools and colleges who are served by more than 150 thousand teachers. Despite such examples of success, there are problems and challenges. Educational management, quality, relevance, access are some of the critical issues of education in Nepal. Societal disparities based on gender, ethnicity, location, economic class, etc. are yet to be eliminated. Resource crunch has always been a problem in education. Due to all 3 these problems achieving the universal goals of Education for All has been a challenge for the country. With national as well as international support, the government is committed to address the issues realistically and efficiently and achieve its goals and objectives.

Structure of Education

Education in Nepal is structured as school education and higher education. School education includes primary level of grades 1-5, lower secondary and secondary levels of grades 6-8 and 9-10 respectively. Pre-primary level of education is also available in certain areas. Six years of age is the prescribed age for admission into grade one. A national level School Leaving Certificate (SLC) Examination is conducted at the end of grade ten. Grades 11 and 12 are considered as higher secondary level. Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) supervises higher secondary schools which are mostly under private management. Previously these grades were under the university system and were run as proficiency certificate level. Some universities still offer these programs. However, the policy now is to integrate these grades into the school system. Higher education consists of bachelor, masters and PhD levels. Depending upon the stream and subject, bachelors level may be of three to five years' duration. The duration of masters level is generally of two years. Some universities also offer programs like M Phil and post-graduate diploma. Legally, there are two types of school in the country: community and institutional. Community schools receive regular government grant whereas institutional schools are funded by school's own or other non-governmental sources. Institutional schools are organized either as a non-profit trust or as a company. However, in practical terms, schools are mainly of two types: public (community) and private (institutional). A third type of school is the schools run by the local people enthusiastic towards having a school in their localities. They do not receive regular government grants and most of them do not have any other sustainable financial source. Supported and managed by the local people, they can be thus identified as the real community schools. Except one, all universities/academies are publicly managed and are supported by public source fund. However, public universities also provide affiliation to private colleges. Two academies of higher education are single college institutes whereas other universities have constituent and affiliated colleges across the country. Never!

Education AdministrationThe Ministry of Education and Sports is the apex body responsible for initiating and managing educational activities in the country. The Minister of Education, assisted by the State/Assistant Minister, provides political leadership to the Ministry. The Ministry, as a part of the government bureaucracy, is headed by the Secretary of Education and consists of the central office, various functional offices and offices located at the regional and district levels. The Central Office or the Ministry is mainly responsible for policy development, planning and monitoring and evaluation regarding different aspects of education. With a purpose of bringing education administration nearer to the people, the Ministry has established five Regional Directorates and 75 District Education Offices in five development regions and 75 districts respectively. These decentralized offices are responsible for overseeing nonformal and school level educational activities in their respective areas. Regional Directorates are mainly responsible for coordinating and monitoring and evaluation of education activities and the District Education Offices are the main implementing agencies.

Culture

Nepal has several ancient pilgrimage sites. Each temple is attached to a legend or belief that glorifies the miraculous powers of its deity. Kathmandu Valley is home to the famous Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhu Stupa and several other famous temples. Hundreds of famous temples are located in and around the Kathmandu Valley. 
Some well-known pilgramage sites are: Barah Chhetra, Halesi Mahadev, Janakpur, Pathibhara, Tengboche in East Nepal; Manakaman, Gorkha, Lumbini, Muktinath, Gosainkunda, Tansen, Kathmandu Valley in Central Nepal; and Swargadwari, Khaptad Ashram in West Nepal.

Nepal is also the Gateway to Kailash Mansarovar, the mythical abode of Lord Shiva. Devotees from various parts of Nepal and India throng the temples during special festivals. Even though weak infrastructure renders some places hard to reach, efforts are being made on national level to develop and promote some popular sites.

Pilgrimage sites of Nepal like Muktinath and Gosainkunda make popular trekking destinations. Tours to these sites are encouraged for the novelty they provide in terms of nature and culture. 

Climatic Condition

Nepal’s weather is generally predictable and pleasant. There are four climatic seasons:

(a) Spring : March-May
(b) Summer : June-August
(c) Autumn : September-November
(d) Winter : December-February.

The monsoon is approximately from the end of June to the middle of September. About 80 per cent of the rain falls during that period, so the remainder of the year is dry. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons; winter temperatures drop to freezing with a high level of snowfall in the mountains. Summer and late spring temperatures range from 28ºC (83ºF) in the hill regions to more than 40ºC (104ºF) in the Terai. In winter, average maximum and minimum temperatures in the Terai range from a brisk 7ºC (45ºF) to a mild 23ºC (74ºF). The central valleys experience a minimum temperature often falling bellow freezing point and a chilly 12ºC (54ºF) maximum. Much colder temperatures prevail at higher elevations. The Kathmandu Valley, at an altitude of 1310m (4297ft), has a mild climate, ranging from 19-27ºC (67-81ºF) in summer, and 2-20ºC (36-68ºF) in winter.

Geology of Nepal

Welcome to Geology of Nepal


Geology of Nepal Himalaya
The Himalayan arc extends about 2400 km from Nanga Parbat (8,138 m) in the west to Namche Barwa (7,756 m) in the east (Le Fort, 1996). This region includes Nepal, Bhutan and as well as parts of Pakistan, India, and China. Since 55 Ma, the Himalayan orogen which began with the collision of India and Eurasia at the Paleocene/Eocence epoch (Rowley, 1996), has thickened the Indian crust to its present thickness of 70 km (Le Fort, 1975). The northwest tip of India after colliding with Asia seems to have met along the full length of the suture by about 40 Ma (Dewey et. al., 1988). Immediately prior to the onset of the Indo-Asian collision, the northern boundary of the Indian shield was likely a thinned margin on which Proterozoic clastic sediments and the Cambrian±Eocene Tethyan shelf sequence were deposited (Le Fort, 1996).

Tectonostratigraphic division of Himalaya
Heim and Gansser (1939), and Gansser (1964) divided the rocks of the Himalaya into four tectonostratigraphic zones that are characterised by distinctive stratigraphy and physiography. From north to south, these are the Sub Himalayan, Lesser Himalayan, Greater Himalayan, and Tibetan Himalayan zones.

Terai
The Terai is the Nepalese portion of the Indo-Gangetic Plain that extends from the Indian Shield in the South to the Siwalik Fold Belt to the North. The plain is a few hundred metres above sea level and usually 400 to 600 m thick. it is composed of Recent of Quaternary alluvium, boulder, gravel, silt and clay. Terai Plain is underlain by a thick, relatively flat-lying sequence of Mid to Late Tertiary molasse (Siwalik Group) which uncomformably overlies subbasins of early Tertiary to Protorozoic sediments (Surkhet, Gondwana and Vindhyan Groups) and igeneous and metamorphic rocks of the Indian Shield (Agrawal, 1977; Acharya and Ray, 1982; Raiverman et.al, 1983).

Sub-Himalaya (Siwaliks)
The Sub Himalayan Zone or the Siwaliks of Nepal extends throughout the country from east to west in the southern part. It is delineated by the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) and Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) in south and north respectively. The Siwaliks consist of very thick (4000 to 6000m) molasses-like fluvial sedimentary deposits comprising a coarsening-upwards sequence as a whole, which reflects the rising history of the Himalayas (Gansser, 1964).

The Sub Himalayan zone is the 10 to 25 km wide belt of Neogene Siwaliks (or Churia) Group rocks, that forms the topographic front of the Himalaya. It rises from the fluvial plains of the active foreland basin, and this front generally mapped as the trace of the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT). The Siwaliks Group consists of upward-coarsening successions of fluvial mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, and conglomerate. The Siwaliks Group in Nepal comprise of three units that are known as lower, middle and upper members. These units can be correlated with the Sub Himalaya of Pakistan and of northern India (Burbank et al., 1996). Palaeocurrent and petrographic data from the sandstone and conglomerate indicate that these rocks were derived from the fold-thrust belt, and deposited within the flexural foredeep of the Himalayan foreland basin (Tokouka et al., 1986; DeCelles et al., 1998)

Lesser Himalaya
The Lesser Himalayas lies in between the Sub-Himalayas and Higher Himalayas separated by MBT and the Main Central Thrust (MCT) respectively. The total width ranges from 60-80 km. The Lesser Himalayas is made up mostly of the unfossiliferous sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks; like shale, sandstone, conglomerate, slate, phyllite, schist, quartzite, limestone, dolomite etc. Ranging in age from Precambrian to Miocene. The geology is complicated due to folding, faulting and thrusting and these complications added by the unfossiliferous nature. Tectonically, the entire Lesser Himalayas consists of two sequences of rocks: allochthonous, and autochthonous-paraautochthonous units; with various nappes, klippes and tectonic windows.

The northernmost boundary of the Siwaliks Group is marked by the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), over which the low-grade metasedimentary rocks of the Lesser Himalaya overlie. The Lesser Himalaya, also called the Lower Himalaya, or the Midlands, is a thick (about 7 km) section of para-autochtonous crystalline rocks comprising of low- to medium grade rocks. These lower Proterozoic clastic rocks (Parrish and Hodges, 1996) are subdivided into two groups. Argillo-arenaceous rocks dominate the lower half of the succession, whereas the upper half consists of both carbonate and siliciclastic rocks (Hagen, 1969; Le Fort, 1975; Stöcklin, 1980). The Lesser Himalaya thrust over the Siwaliks along the MBT to the south, and is overlained by the allochtonous thrust sheets of Kathmandu and HHC along the MCT. The Lesser Himalaya is folded into a vast post-metamorphic anticlinal structure known as the Kunchha-Gorkha anticlinorium (Pêcher, 1977). The southern flank of the anticlinorium is weakly metamorphosed, whereas the northern flank is highly metamorphosed.

Main Central Thrust Zone
The Main Central thrust (MCT) is the single largest structure within the Indian plate that has accommodated Indian-Asian convergence. It extends for nearly 2500 km along strike and has been the site of at least 140 and perhaps more than 600 km of displacement (Schelling and Arita, 1991; Srivastava and Mitra, 1994). Heim and Gansser (1939) defined the MCT in Kumaon based on the difference in metamorphic grade between low to medium-grade rocks of the Lesser Himalaya and higher-grade rocks of the Greater Himalaya. However, the fault originally defined by Heim and Gansser (1939) is not the MCT, but a fault within Lesser Himalaya rocks (Valdiya, 1980; Ahmad et al., 2000). This misidentification symbolizes the challenge that workers have faced in locating the MCT. The metamorphic grade within the Lesser Himalaya increases towards the MCT and at higher structural levels.
In central Nepal, the metamorphic grade increases from low (chlorite + biotite) to medium (biotite + garnet + kyanite ??staurolite) towards the MCT over a north-south distance. The highest-grade rocks (kyanite and sillimanite gneisses) are found within the MCT shear zone, i.e. upper Lesser Himalaya. Arita (1983) places two thrusts (MCT I and MCT II) on each side of the MCT shear zone.

Higher Himalaya
This zone extends from the MCT to Tibetan-Tethys Zone and runs throughout the country. This zone consists of almost 10km thick succession of the crystalline rocks, commonly called the Himal Group. This sequence can be divided into four main units, as Kyanite-Sillimanite gneiss, Pyroxenic marble and gneiss, Banded gneiss, and Augen gneiss in the ascending order (Bordet et al., 1972).

The Higher Himalayan sequence has been variously named. French workers used the term Dalle du Tibet (Tibetan Slab) for this unit (Le Fort, 1975; Bordet et al., 1972). Hagen (1969) called them Khumbu Nappes, and Lumbasumba Nappes. Arita (1983) calls it the Himalayan Gneiss Group, and it lies above the MCT II, or the upper MCT.
The HHC are mainly comprised kyanite- to sillimanite-grade gneisses intruded by High Himalayan leucogranites at structurally higher levels (Upreti, 1999a). Throughout much of the range, the unit is divided into three formations (Pêcher and Le Fort, 1986). In central Nepal (Guillot, 1999), the upper Formation III consists of augen orthogneisses, whereas the Middle Formation II are calcsilicate gneisses and marbles, and the basal Formation I are kyanite- and sillimanite bearing metapelites, gneisses, and metagreywackes with abundant quartzite.

The gneiss of Higher Himalayan zone (HHZ) is a thick continuous sequence of about 5 to 15 km (Guillot, 1999). The northern part is marked by North Himalayan Normal fault (NHNF), which is also known as the South Tibetan Detachment system (STDS). At its base, it is bounded by the MCT. The protolith of the HHC is interpreted to be Late Proterozoic clastic sedimentary rocks deposited on the northern Indian margin (Parrish and Hodges, 1996).

Tibetan-Tethys
The Tibetan-Tethys Himalayas generally begins from the top of the Higher Himalayan Zone and extends to the north in Tibet. In Nepal these fossiliferous rocks are well developed in Thak Khola (Mustang), Manang and Dolpa area. This zone is about 40km wide and composed of fossiliferous sedimentary rocks such as shale, sandstone and limestone etc.

The area north of the Annapurna and Manaslu ranges in central Nepal consists of metasediments that overlie the Higher Himalayan zone along the South Tibetan Detachment system. It has undergone very little metamorphism except at its base where it is close to the Higher Himalayan crystalline rocks. The thickness is currently presumed to be 7,400 m (Fuchs et al., 1988). The rocks of the Tibetan Tethys Series (TSS) consist of a thick and nearly continuous lower Paleozoic to lower Tertiary marine sedimentary succession. The rocks are considered to be deposited in a part of the Indian passive continental margin (Liu and Einsele, 1994).


Geological maps that are available in the market of Kathmandu
1. Geological map of Kathmandu area and Central Mahabharat Range, 1:250,000
2. Geological map of Nepal, 1:1,000,000 (NOT AVAILABLE)
3. Geotectonic Division and Mineral Deposits of Nepal, 1:100,000
4. Photogeological Map of a part of Central Nepal, 1:100,000
5. Geological map of Central Western Nepal, 1:250,000
6. Geological map of Eastern Nepal, 1:250,000
7. Geological map of Central Nepal, 1:250,000
8. Geological map of Mid - Western Nepal, 1:250,000
9. Geological map of Far - Western Nepal, 1:250,000
10. Geological map of Nepal, 1:1,000,000 (better quality)

Geography Of Nepal

The Kingdom of Nepal is a landlocked country situated between India and China's Tibetan Autonomous region. The Himalayas fall within the country's boundaries, thus Nepal is well known for its mountainous and hilly topography. In fact, Nepal is home to the magnificent Mount Everest, believed to be the world's tallest mountain. The fascinating geography of Nepal contributes greatly to the country's wonder and touristic appeal. As we investigate Nepal's geography you will quickly discover why it draws adventure seekers and those interested in exploring its ecological diversity.

Nepal encompasses 147 181 km� of land in a rough rectangular shape and is comparable in size to Arkansas. As you travel from the south to the north of Nepal you will note that the altitude changes. Despite its small size, Nepal's geography is very diverse from its lowest point in Kechana Kalan (Jhapa District) of 70 m above sea level to its highest point at Mount Everest of 8 848 m. Along this rise in altitude there are notable valleys. With the combination of mountains, rolling hills, ridges and valleys, Nepal has an eclectic mix of ecological zones. Nepal is made up of three regions defined by its topographical changes. In the north are the Himalays, then the hills with the Mahabharat range plus Churia hills and finally Terai in the south with some flatter forested or cultivated areas. In the northern reaches of Nepal you will find the temperatures can be below -40�C. In the Terai region the summer temperatures can range up to 40�C, a large variation. Monsoon clouds cover Nepal in June, July and August.

Let us consider each of Nepal's physiographic/topographic regions which run parallel to each other, blending together at the borders.
Himalayas

The Himalayan mountain range creates Nepal's border to the north. This region incorporates 16% of the country's land. Located in the region you will discover the world-renowned Mount Everest as well as Kanchenjunga (measuring 8598 m) and Dhaulagiri (measuring 8137 m). Vegetation in this area is limited and ends at 4 500 m.
The Hills

The Hills region takes in 65% of Nepal's land area and holds the country's capital – Kathmandu. Elevations range greatly in the area from about 500 m above sea level to around 3 000 m above sea level. Summer temperatures in the Hills averages at 32�C and winters reach a chilly -1�C
The Terai

The Terai makes up 17% of the country's land area. The region is ideal for agriculture with the flat lands reaching between 100 m and 300 m above sea level. Within the Sub-tropical forest areas and marshes an abundance of wildlife can be found including rare species such as the Royal Bengal tiger, gharial crocodile and one-horned rhino.

The geography of Nepal is the country's draw card. The appeal of Nepal's physiographical and ecological diversity attracts people from around the world, your visit to Nepal will surely confirm the reality of this truth.

History Of Nepal

The first civilizations in Nepal, which flourished around the 6th century B.C., were confined to the fertile Kathmandu Valley where the present-day capital of the same name is located. It was in this region that Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born c. 563 B.C. Gautama achieved enlightenment as Buddha and spawned Buddhist belief.

Nepali rulers' early patronage of Buddhism largely gave way to Hinduism, reflecting the increased influence of India, around the 12th century. Though the successive dynasties of the Gopalas, the Kiratis, and the Licchavis expanded their rule, it was not until the reign of the Malla kings from 1200–1769 that Nepal assumed the approximate dimensions of the modern state.

The kingdom of Nepal was unified in 1768 by King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who had fled India following the Moghul conquests of the subcontinent. Under Shah and his successors Nepal's borders expanded as far west as Kashmir and as far east as Sikkim (now part of India). A commercial treaty was signed with Britain in 1792 and again in 1816 after more than a year of hostilities with the British East India Company.

In 1923, Britain recognized the absolute independence of Nepal. Between 1846 and 1951, the country was ruled by the Rana family, which always held the office of prime minister. In 1951, however, the king took over all power and proclaimed a constitutional monarchy. Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah became king in 1955. After Mahendra died of a heart attack in 1972, Prince Birendra, at 26, succeeded to the throne.

In 1990, a pro-democracy movement forced King Birendra to lift the ban on political parties. The first free election in three decades provided a victory for the liberal Nepali Congress Party in 1991, although the Communists made a strong showing. A small but growing Maoist guerrilla movement, seeking to overthrow the constitutional monarchy and install a Communist government, began operating in the countryside in 1996.

On June 1, 2001, King Birendra was shot and killed by his son, Crown Prince Dipendra. Angered by his family's disapproval of his choice of a bride, he also killed his mother and several other members of the royal family before shooting himself. Prince Gyanendra, the younger brother of King Birendra, was then crowned king.

King Gyanendra dismissed the government in October 2002, calling it corrupt and ineffective. He declared a state of emergency in November and ordered the army to crack down on the Maoist guerrillas. The rebels intensified their campaign, and the government responded with equal intensity, killing hundreds of Maoists, the largest toll since the insurgency began in 1996. In Aug. 2003, the Maoist rebels withdrew from peace talks with the government and ended a cease-fire that had been signed in Jan. 2003. The following August, the rebels blockaded Kathmandu for a week, cutting off shipments of food and fuel to the capital.

King Gyanendra fired the entire government in Feb. 2005 and assumed direct power. Many of the country's politicians were placed under house arrest, and severe restriction on civil liberties were instituted. In Sept. 2005, the Maoist rebels declared a unilateral cease-fire, which ended in Jan. 2006. In April, massive pro-democracy protests organized by seven opposition parties and supported by the Maoists took place. They rejected King Gyanendra's offer to hand over executive power to a prime minister, saying he failed to address their main demands: the restoration of parliament and a referendum to redraft the constitution. Days later, as pressure mounted and the protests intensified, King Gyanendra agreed to reinstate parliament. The new parliament quickly moved to diminish the king's powers. In May, it voted unanimously to declare Nepal a secular nation and strip the king of his authority over the military.